Merkur Group Acquires White Hat Studios, Excluding Platform and White Label Operations
2026-07-15
Merkur Group has agreed to acquire White Hat Studios, a US slots supplier founded in 2021, while excluding the White Hat Gaming platform and white label businesses. The deal, which complements Merkur's recent acquisition of Gaming Arts, is subject to regulatory approvals and aims to bolster Merkur's presence in regulated American iGaming.
Merkur Group has reached an agreement to acquire White Hat Studios, a US-focused slots supplier, in a move designed to strengthen its foothold in regulated American iGaming markets. The transaction, which remains subject to regulatory approvals, covers only the game development business. The White Hat Gaming platform and its white label operations are explicitly excluded and will continue under their current ownership structure.
White Hat Studios launched in 2021 and quickly established itself as a leading provider in the US iGaming sector. It became the first supplier to launch online slots across all seven states that regulate the vertical. Its portfolio includes the House of Brands slot collection, the 7s Fire Blitz series, the Jackpot Royale progressive jackpot network, and over 150 titles in total.
Strategic Rationale
The acquisition follows Merkur's recent purchase of Gaming Arts, a Nevada-licensed game and machine supplier. Together, the two deals equip Merkur with a combined lineup of online-first and omni-channel content to support operating partners across the US. Merkur views White Hat Studios as a vehicle to accelerate its own expansion in regulated iGaming, leveraging the supplier's established market position and product innovation capabilities.
Executive Comments
Andy Whitworth, President of White Hat Studios, said joining Merkur is “the best possible move to realise our ambitions for future growth and product innovation.” He added that working with the Merkur team will enhance the company's ability to develop a world-class omni-channel proposition.
Lars Felderhoff, Chairman of the Merkur Management Board, noted that White Hat Studios has delivered impressive growth since launch and expressed confidence in continuing that success story while advancing Merkur's expansion.
Michael Gauselmann, Chairman of the Merkur Supervisory Board, drew a parallel to Merkur's acquisition of Blueprint in 2012, which marked the company's early move into the European online space, and said he is confident White Hat Studios will be a great addition.
Advisory Roles
White Hat Studios was advised by Oakvale Capital on the transaction. Legal counsel was provided by CMS for White Hat Studios and Wiggin for Merkur.